Karma Kandara, a luxury resort located in Bali, Indonesia, exemplifies the integration
of contemporary architectural design with a rich cultural setting and a lush natural environment. Located in the in Ungasan, the southern and more rural portion of the island and enjoying beach access as well as implausible views of the Indian Ocean, the proposed structure completes the sprawling resort with a new landmark hospitality building.
The new building, encompassing 54 new units ranging from studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments is part of a larger masterplan which includes new villas (by another architect) and a large wandering swimming pool with a swim-up bar as well as a new restaurant and other common amenities.
The project balances the cultural needs of fitting in with the ornate and crafty culture of the Balinese island with the aesthetic and environmental demands of an ecological lifestyle and contemporary aesthetics. Aiming to stand out from the lush scenery of the island, the building presents visitors with an oasis, a relaxing escape with a serene atmosphere and a memorable ecological and aesthetic experience.
The buildings volume and shape strengthen a sense of interior, intensifying perspective towards its courtyard and common areas while stimulating a sense of desire. Its shaped roof and upward nature hints to the tradition of local Hindu temples. The irregularly U-shaped mass contorts its volume to respond to the site and naturally bookends the overall composition. Maximizing the expansive views towards the ocean as well as the immersive experience of the lush resort, the building is organized along a bending single-loaded corridor which affords each room with natural illumination and cross ventilation, as well as outdoor balconies of various shape and sizes. Two brick-clad multi-level entry atriums located at the elbows of the u-shaped volume, provide a warm and inviting ambiance that accentuates openness and fluidity while creating a spatial accent to the interior-exterior ecological experience.
Materially, the project combines a stony solidity of a mineral with the fragile and threaded nature of a piece of cloth, hence affording the mass a more variegated and fleeting aesthetics. This affords the building a changing atmosphere, such as in evenings where the building lights up offering glimpses of the interior in mysterious ways.
Combining local materials such as andesite, lava stone, brick and darkened wood timber bris-solei elements with textured cast-in-place concrete, the building aims to synthetize the weaving and threading tradition of Balinese temples in an undoubtedly contemporary way. In contrast with its strong crystalline outline, the building surfaces are translucent and textured, allowing for a more textile feel to its surfaces and enabling guests to enjoy the much sought-after privacy, leisure, and an exceptional spatial experience.
